A New Year feels like a clean slate. I have learned those things I shouldn’t do to be a “Coach”. I have not been able to, instinctively, do what I have learned to do. Does that make any sense? What happens is I end up not DOING anything except avoid that which shouldn’t be done. So, in 2013, I resolve to learn and ingrain coaching behaviors into my toolbox. It should make for some interesting times.
In case you’re wondering what behaviors I try to avoid, here are some of them:
1. Don’t prescribe
2. Don’t stop your team from testing and trying new things
3. Don’t assume I have the best or right answer
4. Don’t allow yourself to be pulled in too many directions
2. and 3. are particularly interesting/hard. Often, from experience or intuition, I do know better*. But there is value in a team learning for itself (that I am right) or in me learning from the team (that I am wrong).
In the first case, they’ll learn the lesson better from making their own mistakes. In the second, I learn.
* Hahaha, of course I do! Always . . . NOT!
Exactly! Happy New Year, Jacque!